By Vijay Krishna

New Delhi, Mar 14 (IANS): The #Trashtag challenge is neither silly nor dangerous, still is finding traction among the netizens around the world. Whats more, the challenge to the bored teens after thousands of shares and likes on the social media is being hailed as a ‘worthwhile challenge on the internet.

Those clued in on the #trashtag challenge say that the globally trending hashtag has been around since 2015 started by outdoor gear company UCO. Indians have been associated with it since the early days. Afroz Shah, a Mumbai-based lawyer, used the hashtag to encourage citizen's participation in the cleaning up the dirty Versova Beach and was bestowed the Champion of the Earth award by the United Nations.

In its present avatar, the hashtag got viral on the internet when Bryon Roman, according to media reports, about a week ago posted his challenge on his Facebook page. He posted, "Here is a new #challenge for you bored teens. Take a photo of an area that needs some cleaning or maintenance, then take a photo after you have done something about, and post it. Here are the people doing it #BasuraChallenge #trashtag Challenge, join the cause. #BasuraChallengeAZ ."

The challenge requires the participant to clean up a public space, post pictures of before and after on the social media and nominate others.

Given that initiatives like the Swachh Bharat Missions have led to public discourse on cleanliness, the Indians have taken to the #trashtag challenge in a big way. Here is a few samples of what the Indian twitteraties have to say:

"#SwachhIndia #SwachhBharat #CleanIndiaMission started by @narendramodi @BJP4India for India has taken the form of a global movement with #trashtag #TrashChallenge Now that's the impact of our @PMOIndia #LokSabhaElections2019 proud of @PMOIndia #NaMoAgain" tweets @coolshekh

"Don't know anyone has put this on news or not, but India needs the #trashtag challenge to trend. Would you mind spreading the word...??" tweets @NidhiKesharwan5

"Not Just Another Dumb Challenge: #TrashTag Challenge Is Motivating People To Pick Up Trash" tweets @JaagoInd

"Can you call "mother earth" it is emergency hide us in your lap Why spoil earth Your trash belongs to you Now or never if we don't step up We'll be lost forever 1 in 8 deaths in India is due to air pollution (12.5%) #trashtag #pollution #HumanityFirst #climatechange #challenge" writes @muzamilamin32

"If #India #teens start doing this for #cleanearthchallenge #trashtag !! I bet it will be clean in a day!!! I am very #positive about it!!! #letsdothis #LetsStartRight #challenge #IndiaUnites #youngindiarising #WorldsBest #Saveplanetearth #biodiversity" tweets @NandiniRawat.